Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/407

 Peter Skene Ogden 375 these Indians before all of them would agree to deliver up these captives. But at last he was successful. His stern will, determination, and courage won out. The Indians understood the man who was opposing them, that he had come to rescue these captives, and that he would not be denied. Within a few days thereafter all the captives were surrendered to Ogden at Fort Walla Walla. He then delivered to the Indians blankets, guns, ammunition, to- bacco, and other articles as a ransom. The party, consist- ing of the captives and several white refugees from other Protestant missions, headed by Ogden, without delay left- Fort Walla Walla for Oregon City by water. It was none too soon, for information came to the Cayuses that some of the Oregon volunteers from the Willamette Valley had arrived at The Dalles, and the Cayuses War was prac- tically begun. These captives and refugees were speedily brought to Fort Vancouver and the next day were de- livered at Oregon City, amid great rejoicing. The cap- tives were speedily taken care of by pioneer families at Oregon City and in the Willamette Valley. Governor Abernethy wrote an official letter of thanks to Ogden for rescuing these captives. Three of these survivors are now present. They are : Mrs. 0. N. Denny (Gertrude Jane Hall), who unveiled this memorial stone today; Mrs. William F. Helm (Eliza- beth M. Sager) ; Mrs. William Wallace Jacobs (Nancy Annie Osborn). They were small children then. They are old ladies now. They are still hale and possessed of their mental and physical faculties. They have lived useful and noble lives. I know that in their heart of hearts they have not forgotten. They remember and they are duly grateful to Peter Skene Ogden. The other living survivors of those captives and their residences are as follows: Oscar Canfield, Lewiston, Idaho; Mrs. Copley (Mary Ann Saunders), Riverside, California; Mrs. Delany (Matilda J. Sager), Eugene*